Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for sinusitis was dismissed. Major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder were granted service connection. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70% from May 20, 2009. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and TDIU prior to August 2, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, hemorrhoids, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being reviewed.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as bipolar disorder. The case is remanded to determine if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the current acquired psychiatric disorders pre-existed service or are related to military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the right shoulder disorder claim. The psychiatric disorders including PTSD, anxiety, and depression were reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. Service connection for major depressive disorder was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to new evidence received after the substantive appeal was filed, including VA examinations and translated documents. The claims will be reconsidered with a focus on the relationship between the Veteran’s nervous disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression) and his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, has been denied as the evidence of record is insufficient to establish a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between his service-connected anxiety disorder and his claimed disabilities (hypertension, headaches, OSA, IBS, acid reflux).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted as service connected due to the continuity of symptoms since his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including Personality Disorder, Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Unspecified Depressive Disorder, and Severe Major Depressive Disorder with Psychotic Features, has been reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran will need to provide more accurate information about his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder and anxiety, are granted as service connected. The claims for bilateral knee condition, vertigo, acid reflux, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder are attributable to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. However, additional development is needed as a VA examination is required to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition, and his claim for TDIU is also being remanded due to its interrelated nature with the rating issue.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the reduction in disability evaluation for lumbar spine disability from 40% to 20% was proper and denied an increased rating for anxiety disorder. The TDIU claim prior to October 15, 2012, was also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral glaucoma, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded as there are insufficient opinions regarding its etiology. The examiner should consider both service-connected residuals of adenocarcinoma of the prostate status post radical prostatectomy and exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.,The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also being remanded, requiring a new VA examination and medical opinion that addresses all diagnosed conditions and their relationship to service or service-connected disabilities.